The thought of spending an afternoon, or even an hour, baking by the searing hot oven on a beautiful summer’s day is not tempting. Luckily, ice cream is going to be your savior. No, we’re not suggesting that you end your dinner party with a few tubs of your favorite Ben and Jerry’s, but rather that you serve your own homemade frozen treat.

Finally, if you have an ice cream machine, or are willing to fill your kitchen cupboards with one, then go all out and end your meal with a smooth, classic ice cream, served in glasses or cones. Make sure you tell everyone that you made this ice cream yourself — whether it’s the real deal, no-churn, or semifreddo — and everyone will be convinced that you’re a culinary genius, a domestic goddess, and the ultimate host. No one needs to know how simple it was to pull together such a tasty summer dessert.